Issue 10 – The Corinthian Online

Issue 10, The Corinthian 2020

Feature Articles

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

In Defence of Independent Schools

Now that Corbynism has been condemned to the dustbin of history and the existential threat facing independent schools has been...

The Romantic Allure of Stowe

Kenneth and John had never met before their first day at school in 1928. Stowe had only been operating as...

Scottish Island Peaks Race

May 2019 When I took over as Chairman one area that I was keen to engage with the OS community...

Development Office Update

As the Headmaster explains in his article overleaf, we are approaching a significant time for the Campaign for Stowe –...

The Stowe Martlet

With our Centenary on the horizon, we have been spending time reflecting on the School that Stowe was founded to...

Change Makers

Over the course of the last year, the School has been working on an exciting project to determine the direction...

Capability Brown’s Architectural Education at Stowe

Stowe can claim to have been a seat of learning and education long before the School opened in 1923. In...

Obsession: The Search for the Deepest Cave on Earth

Based upon the unreliable memoirs of Joel Corrigan (Lyttelton 87). A Prelude to Misery “The darkness was complete; I could...

‘Rest and be Thankful’

(An old Scots welcome after a long journey) 27 March 1802 On one of my occasional visits to Hampshire, I...

The Gift of Music

On behalf of the Music Department, I have a special thanks to David Lees-Jones (Grenville 65), who has kindly gifted...

Ode to the Ice Glaze

O thou mighty ice rink Upon whole muddy brink Stand and shiver Stoic figures, About to face thy frigid rigours....

Work Experience At Fairfax & Favor

From 22-26 July 2019, I worked for Fairfax & Favor at their Head Office in Norfolk. Fairfax and Favor is...

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Bookshelf

Bookshelf

Welcome to the tenth edition of The Corinthian – the magazine for Old Stoics.

You might notice a new look and feel to Old Stoic news from now on – we are delighted to launch our brand new logo and communication style with this magazine. Our new logo is inspired by the Corinthian Arch, a subtle reminder of the beauty of Stowe, which means so much to all Old Stoics.

The theme of this year’s magazine is the romance of Stowe and we hope the pages will capture something of the spirit of the School and its wonderful surroundings. The feature articles focus on the romance of the environment; the love stories which have blossomed within it and how an appreciation for beauty influences Old Stoics’ lives. We were astounded by the number of Old Stoics who are married to other Old Stoics – over 100 – and that’s just what’s recorded on the OS database.

We share news of an exciting project to capture the spirit of our great school in time for the Centenary in 2023, with eminent photographer, Jonathan Glynn-Smith’s photography project. Jonathan is responsible for the amazing photograph on the cover of this magazine and we have included plenty more evocative shots within the pages of this edition.

Once again, it has been a struggle to squeeze all of the news and stories into this year’s magazine, following yet another busy year. We were astounded and very grateful indeed to welcome over 1600 Old Stoics and guests to our events in the last year alone.

Finally, I’d like to thank everyone who has submitted an article and to all of you who have sent in your news. Once again, thank you to the advertisers who have supported the magazine. I’d like to thank Sasha Moss, Old Stoic Events Co-ordinator, for her hard work throughout the year as well as her tireless efforts compiling this magazine. We greatly missed Caroline Whitlock’s assistance with the production of this magazine, since her untimely death in July last year. This edition is the first since the inception of The Corinthian that has not been subject to Caroline’s eagled eyed proof reading skills. We have included an obituary for Caroline.

I hope you enjoy this year’s edition. I will end with my usual plea: in the busy world we live in it is essential that we have your current email address so we can keep you up to date. If you are in any doubt, please email oldstoic@stowe.co.uk

Anna Semler (Nugent 05), Old Stoic Society Director

Well, what a year. The initial onslaught of commitments as Chair made for a busy start to the year. Despite the extent of my involvement in the Society, it still never fails to amaze me how much is going on and how full my diary is with an incredible array of events that I can attend. Particular highlights for me are always the Sports and OS Days up at the School. There have been some new ‘challenge’-style events (see the Scottish Islands Peaks article) as well as our inaugural Military Dinner. I continue to enjoy meeting and making OS friends who may be from completely different generations: it is always highly enjoyable to spend an evening with them. One of my favourite OS ‘success’ stories is of two OSs, one older and one younger than me but neither of whom crossed over with my time at Stowe, who met at an OS event and subsequently got married. They have become good friends of mine and were part of the inspiration for this year’s theme being the ‘romance of Stowe’. Please enjoy the other ‘romantic’ stories relating to both the people and the beautiful grounds at Stowe.

We were incredibly sad to lose Caroline Whitlock from the OS community earlier this year but is was a lovely testament to her popularity both within the School and OSS that so many turned up for her memorial service at the School Chapel. We all shed a tear but smiled in equal measure during the course of the afternoon.

In terms of thanks, there are a number of people who are instrumental cogs in the OSS wheel. It’s great fun working with everyone whether employed or volunteers and I hope they all enjoy it as much as I do. To Anna and Sasha in the OS Office, without whom we’d all be lost, and all on the Committee who give their time and enthusiasm so freely. We have some great projects on the go and have made good progress in most areas this year. My particular thanks goes to Peter Comber who has stepped down as Treasurer after six years at the helm. He has been instrumental in creating a new attitude to funding events and, despite some ongoing challenges, leaves the Society in excellent shape financially. I welcome Nigel Wright (Chatham 78) to the Committee in his place who brings with him a wealth of financial experience from the Charity sector. I must also thank all those who stood for the position of Vice-Chair and to Luke Chauveau (Cobham 87) for taking on this role and the support that he has already given me.

My aims that I set last year were along the themes of Centenary, Commercial, Charity, Careers and Challenges. I am also continually focussed on ‘friendraising’ and constantly asking myself and the Committee how we can get more people involved. If you don’t get our regular emails then please get in touch and, if you speak to an OS friend who has fallen out of touch, please encourage them to re-engage. As always, if there is any feedback you have, then please send it to any of the Committee or the OS office: we really do welcome it and are constantly striving to improve what we do. Please also check that we have your latest contact details: we had a good response to the Census last year but can always do better on the quality of our communication and the percentage of our membership that we reach regularly.

Centenary plans are developing well with various OS working groups due to ‘pitch’ their events in early March. Thanks to all those involved and please, if you would like to be involved with the 2023 Centenary celebrations, then get in touch. Commercial plans move forward at a steady pace and there was been much liaison with the School and the School Shop. We hope to have sample products to review during the first part of 2020. Please do keep an eye on the ‘shop’ section of the OS website and look out for Anna and Sasha selling merchandise at our events.

Looking forwards over this year there will be some new events on offer. As I type this I am currently in Ecuador with two OS’s who are going to be climbing an Ecuadorian peak over 5,000m which will also be the inaugural OS Alpine Society outing. There are plans for a weekend of hiking / ice-climbing / ski-touring (weather-dependent) towards the end of the winter up in the Scottish Highlands (date to be confirmed). Having sung with another OS in the Carol Concert in December I aim to arrange our next ‘challenge’ event and cycle from London to Stowe in the Spring. But don’t worry, if you’re not sporty, there is plenty more going on from the continuing success of the OS Corkscrew Society, a new format Careers Fair through to volunteering opportunities with the OS Benevolent Trust.

Lastly, one of my personal challenges to all of you is to reach out to some of your OS friends who you may not have seen for a while. I met up with a small group of 2001 leavers in November and, whilst I hadn’t seen some of them for over 10 years, it was as if we’d seen each other yesterday. Old friends are the best and some of your oldest may welcome the contact. On this theme, please also look up any year reunions that we are arranging (normally a round number!) or do organise your own. We would be happy to support you in any way that we can.

Wishing you all the best for a happy and healthy 2020.

Hannah Durden (Nugent 01), Old Stoic Society Chair